Plant container

Abstract

A plant growing system includes a base component; and a container disposed on top of the base component. The container includes a container body having a floor surface at a lower end, and a wall having a lower edge coupled to the floor surface and extending upward from the perimeter of the floor surface to an upper edge. A drainage port is disposed through the wall near the lower edge of the wall.

The following is claimed: 
     
       1. A plant growing system, comprising:
 a base component; and 
 a container disposed on top of the base component, wherein the container comprises:
 a container body having a floor surface at a lower end, a gutter defined in the floor surface and having an inlet plane coplanar with the floor surface, the gutter having a downward slope extending from a first end of the gutter to a second end of the gutter, and the container body further having a first wall having a lower edge coupled to the floor surface and extending upward from the perimeter of the floor surface to an upper edge; 
 a drainage port disposed through the first wall near the lower edge of the first wall, and the drainage port disposed adjacent to the second end of the gutter and intersected by the inlet plane; 
 a drainage spout configured to be partially inserted into the drainage port and intersected by the inlet plane, the drainage spout comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a second wall extending between the first end and the second end; and 
 a fluid lumen defined through the drainage spout and extending from the first end and the second end, the fluid lumen facilitating fluid drainage from the container via the drainage port. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the drainage spout is configured to be coupled to a conduit such that liquid exiting the container through the drainage spout flows into the conduit. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gutter further comprises a ledge configured to receive the drainage spout. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage spout further comprises a collar disposed between the first end and the second end, the collar being configured to engage an outer surface of the container body and thereby limit an amount by which the drainage spout is insertable into the drainage port. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the collar has a polygonal shape that is configured to be gripped by a torque-applying tool. 
     
     
       6. A method of using the plant growing system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 inserting the first end of the drainage spout into the drainage port of the container; 
 covering the floor surface of the container with a grow medium; 
 transplanting a plant into the container; 
 providing a water collection system; and 
 adding water to the grow medium in the container. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising sealing the drainage port by applying a sealing mechanism to the drainage spout, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises at least one of Teflon tape and a liquid sealant. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein providing the water collection system comprises coupling a conduit to the second end of the drainage spout, and further comprising permitting water in the container to drain to the conduit via the drainage spout. 
     
     
       9. A plant growing system, comprising:
 a base component; 
 a container disposed on top of the base component, wherein the container comprises:
 a container body having a floor surface at a lower end and a gutter defined in the floor surface, the gutter having an inlet plane coplanar with the floor surface, the gutter comprising a downward slope extending from a first end of the gutter to a second end of the gutter, and the container body further having a wall having a lower edge coupled to the floor surface and extending upward from the perimeter of the floor surface to an upper edge; and 
 a drainage port disposed through the wall near the lower edge of the wall and intersected by the inlet plane, and the second end of the gutter being disposed adjacent to the drainage port; and 
 
 a drainage spout comprising:
 a first portion that is configured to be communicably coupled to the drainage port such that the drainage spout is intersected by the inlet plane, the first portion comprising an aperture; and 
 a second portion comprising a first end coupled to the first portion, a second end, and a wall extending away from the first portion between the first end and the second end. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the gutter further comprises a ledge configured to receive the drainage spout. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the second portion comprises a depression configured to focus a stream of liquid exiting the container through the drainage spout. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the second portion is configured to be coupled to a conduit such that liquid exiting the container through the drainage spout flows into the conduit. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a grate disposed in at least one of the drainage port and the drainage spout, wherein the grate is configured to prevent a growing medium from exiting the container via the drainage port. 
     
     
       14. A method of using the plant growing system of  claim 9 , the method comprising:
 inserting the first portion of the drainage spout into the drainage port of the container; 
 covering the floor surface of the container with a grow medium; 
 transplanting a plant into the container; 
 providing a water collection system; and 
 adding water to the grow medium in the container. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein providing the water collection system comprises coupling a conduit to the second end of the drainage spout, and further comprising permitting water in the container to drain to the conduit via the drainage spout. 
     
     
       16. A method of using a plant growing system, the plant growing system comprising:
 a base component; and 
 a container disposed on top of the base component, wherein the container comprises:
 a container body having a floor surface at a lower end, a gutter defined in the floor surface, the gutter having a downward slope extending from a first end of the gutter to a second end of the gutter, and the gutter further having a ledge, the container body further having a first wall having a lower edge coupled to the floor surface and extending upward from the perimeter of the floor surface to an upper edge; 
 a drainage port disposed through the first wall near the lower edge of the first wall, and the drainage port disposed adjacent to the gutter; 
 a drainage spout configured to be partially inserted into the drainage port and received by the ledge of the gutter, the drainage spout comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a second wall extending between the first end and the second end; 
 a fluid lumen defined through the drainage spout and extending from the first end and the second end, the fluid lumen facilitating fluid drainage from the container via the drainage port; 
 
 
 the method comprising:
 inserting the first end of the drainage spout into the drainage port of the container; 
 covering the floor surface of the container with a grow medium; 
 transplanting a plant into the container; 
 providing a water collection system; and 
 adding water to the grow medium in the container. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second end of the drainage spout is configured to be coupled to a conduit such that liquid exiting the container through the drainage spout flows into the conduit. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a grate disposed in at least one of the drainage port and the drainage spout, wherein the grate is configured to prevent the grow medium from exiting the container via the drainage port. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the water collection system comprises coupling a conduit to the second end of the drainage spout, and further comprising permitting water in the container to drain to the conduit via the drainage spout.